Friday, January 27, 2012

Lauren Oliver review - Pandemonium, Delirium, Before I Fall

A couple years ago I won an ARC copy of Lauren Oliver's debut novel, Before I Fall and this is when I fell in love with her style of writing. I'm not talking about Before I Fall today - but just looking at the beautiful cover should make any YA fan interested!

Lauren Oliver writes primarily for the YA audience but also recently released a book for the middle grades called, Liesel & Po. Her style and technique is flawless, and I think she sets such a great example for her audience. Her books have just enough risque, without going over the top.

I knew after finishing Before I Fall, that I would devour her second novel, Delirium. The synopsis totally sucked me in, and I was just dying to get my hands on this book! As soon as it came out the beginning of 2011, I bought it on my Nook (one of the first books I read on it!) and took it in in almost one sitting.

From Goodreads:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love
.


It's another dystopian - but we aren't sick of them yet, right?? Like The Hunger Games, this novel is about a society that strives to eliminate love. They believe that passion, emotion and falling in love is a sickness that must be cured. Some people fall for the hype and are brainwashed, others rebel and escape to live in the Wilds as Invalids.

I adored Delirium (obviously) and when I saw that the sequel, Pandemonium was on Around the World Tours, I quickly signed up. Several months later, it was finally my turn to read and review!

Now, I'm posting about both books, because I'm not sure who has read Delirium and who hasn't. I'm hesitant to talk too much about the sequel because I don't want to spoil anything! I didn't love the second installment as much as the first, but it was still very, very good. The first half of the book dragged a little, but once it got passed about halfway through, it was obvious that the ground needed to be set to make way for the real action. I'm glad I breezed through it and got to the good stuff because the end was SHOCKING. I did not see it coming.

I will say, if you liked The Hunger Games and you liked Divergent, you will probably like these too. This trilogy (yep, there's going to be a third!) seems to be more for girls, but it has the same major elements as both THG and Divergent. Dystopian, wannabe utopian society. Possible love triangles. Action and adventure. Chaos. Cliffhangers.

Don't miss out on this author - she's fantastic!

Today I've linked up with Heather at Blonde Undercover Blonde for Bookclub Friday!

15 comments:

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I haven't read Delirium! If I like Divergent, I will have to check it out! Sounds like a great book!

Unknown said...

Oooo!! This sounds good! I haven't heard of either before. Thanks for sharing! I loved The Hunger Games trilogy. And you're right. The cover for "Before I Fall" is awesome!

Unknown said...
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Mrs. Darcy said...

I have never heard of this author before-I will have to read one of her books!!!!

Wiz said...

I have heard great things about all these books! I will have to check it out!

Heather said...

I haven't heard of this author before, but I'll definitely check her out!!

Suz said...

all of those have been on my to read list for ages! Now if I could just get through The Host. It is taking me foreva!

Victoria said...

they sound like good ones for sure!

happy friday!

Melissa said...

I have not heard of this author, but i am interested in reading these, i have put them on my wish list! Hope the snow is avoiding you today! Happy Friday :)

Unknown said...

Oh wow these sound awesome. Adding them to my book list. Very excited. :) Love your blog by the way it is too cute!

Shoshanah said...

I really enjoyed Delirium, and def playing on reading Pandemonium once its officially out

P said...

I loved "Before I Fall" and "delirium" was pretty good but i hated the ending and how it was set up for more novels - I prefer a cut and dried ending like her first novel had. I'm not sure if I will read "Pandemonium".

Megan W said...

I got a Nook for Christmas and Delirium was the first book I bought. I'm excited for Pandemonium, and even more so because of your review! I also found with BN.com a "digital story" called 'Hana' that comes out in February too. It's 144 pages and I pre-ordered that on my Nook too (I think it was $2.99). Have you heard about that? I'm hoping it's good too!

Janie said...

All four of those books are on my to-read list. I cannot wait to read them :)

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